ppealing
name and by the authority of to the supreme judge of the
the good people of these world for the rectitude of our
_states, reject and renounce all intentions_, do in the name,
allegiance and subjection to and by the good people of
the kings of Great Britain, these _colonies, solemnly
and all others who may hereafter publish and declare that these
claim by, through or united colonies are and of
under them; we utterly dissolve right ought to be free and
all political connexion which independent states; that they
may heretofore have are absolved from all
subsisted between us and the allegiance to the British crown,
people or parliament of Great and that all political
Britain; and finally we do connexion between them and the
assert and declare these colonies state of Great Britain is, and
to be free and independent ought to be, totally dissolved_;
states_, and that as free and and that as free and independent
independent states, they have states they have full
full power to levy war, power to levy war, conclude
conclude peace, contract alliances, peace, contract alliances,
establish commerce, and to do establish commerce, and to do
all other acts and things all other acts and things
which independent states may which independent states may
of right do. of right do.

And for the support of this And for the support of this
declaration, we mutually declaration, _with a firm
pledge to each other our lives, reliance on the protection of
our fortunes, and our sacred divine providence_, we mutually
honour. pledge to each other our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred
honour.

The words expunged from the original draft are distinguished by
italics, as are the words that were introduced by congress.

* * * * *

NOTE--No. VII. _See Page 229._

"My reasons for this measure," said the Commander-in-chief in his
letter to General Lee, ordering him to cross the Hudson, "and which I
think must have weight with you, are, that the enemy are evidently
changing the seat of war to this side of the North ri